THE FAMILY of a 19-year-old who died after the car she was a passenger in hit a tree, say they are still coming to terms with their devastating loss.

Lucy Pinder, from Thornaby, near Stockton-on-Tees, was in the back seat of a Mercedes which crashed near Pickering in Ryedale, North Yorkshire on Thursday, June 16.

The car had been travelling west on the unclassified Kirby Misperton Road at about 3.20pm when it overturned and collided with a tree and a metal gate post. It is believed they had been travelling back from Flamingo Land Resort.

Lucy was sadly pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

The driver and other passengers in the car have been arrested in connection with the incident, but police have not said why the arrests were made.

Lucy’s family say they are “devastated”.

In a statement they said: “We are devastated at our loss and still trying to come to terms with it as a family.

“We’d like time to grieve privately and thank all our friends and family for their support and kind thoughts.”

Lucy was a student at Stockton Riverside College.

Today the college said: "Our deepest condolences go out to Lucy’s family and friends on behalf of Stockton Riverside College staff, students and governors.

"We are offering support to our staff and students at this difficult time to help them come to terms with the tragic loss of a student and friend."

A JustGiving page has been set up by a friend to raise money in her memory. The fund aimed to raise £500 towards her funeral, but people have already donated £1,735.

It states: "Lucy Pinder has just lost her life in a tragic accident so can't imagine the stress all of her family are going through, so we would like to take some of that stress away by raising money to help towards funeral costs and other things."

The driver of the blue Mercedes C220 saloon, a 27-year-old man from Thornaby, has been released on police bail pending further enquiries. He was treated for minor facial injuries.

The other passengers in the car, a 22-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman, from Thornaby, were also treated for minor injuries and have been released on bail after being arrested.

Officers would now like to hear from any witnesses, or anyone who recalls seeing the Mercedes prior to the incident.

Contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for the Major Collision Investigation Team.

Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.